The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-29
LONG ISLANDS LEIGH PONDS.

Visit to One of the LarGest-Thc Inn
ported Article Best-Demand.
One of the largest leech ponds in the
world is situated at Newtown. 1t was
formerly operated by German, who,
having connections in France, imported
hundreds of thousands of leeches annu-
ally. The farm in its entirety measures
thirteen acres. visited the spot one
day last week, but found that while a few
years ago 1000 leeches day were sold
from there less than 100 are now disposed
Of. Various reasons are given for this
great falling off. An aged German wom-
an, wife of the proprietor, with whom I
talked, stated that the weather of the
past few winters had been too severe for
the proper cultivation of leeches. Many
of the ponds are situated ON the left of
the railroad track going north, between
Newtown and Winfield. They are thus
exposed to the wind and the rising of the
tide of Bowery Bay. Salt water, which
is destructive to the life of leech, is
forced from the bay to the ponds. N.Y.
informant said that had the ponds been
situated on the right of the rail-
road track the cultivation of the little
blood sucker might have been continued,
and with great success.
The American leech is absolutely
worthless for medical purposes. 1t is
black and poor bitter. OF the foreign
leeches those imported from France and
Hungary are preferred. The body of
the American leech is less than one
third the size of the imported. The lat
ter is spindle shaped and fattened so as
to be elliptical. 1t is somewhat pointed
in front except when the mouth is in
action. Externally the body is covered
with thin perforated cuticle. This cut
icle or coat is shed at intervals. The
bottom of the leech ponds at Newtown
is composed of clay with margins of peat.
In the latter the cocoons or eggs are de-
posted about the middle of June. Musk
and water rats are enemies of the leech
and exterminate many of their young.
When the ponds at Newtown were fully
stocked COWS were employed to feed the
leeches. These unwilling brutes were
driven into the water at stated intervals,
much to their annoyance. At times it
became necessary to tie the cows for fear
that they would escape. Leeches are
also fed by having linen bags full of
fresh blood suspended in the water.
Adult leeches, unless they are specially
meant for breeding purposes, are fed
every six months.
DR.. j. G. johnson informed me recent
ly that leeches were now seldom used
for medical purposes. Less than quarter
of o century ago, he said, millions on
millions of them were used in this coun-
try and abroad, but like cupping, the
practice had fallen into disuse. In DR..
Johnson's opinion leech should be used
but once. When used on two or more
persons it is apt to carry contagious dis
ease, in case either of them were so af-
fected. The leech is only of service in
local blood letting. Leeches which have
been generously fed are of but little use.
They may be made to bite, however, by
smearing the skin with cream or blood,
or by immersing them for minute in
porter or tepid water. Each fills in about
fifteen minutes and draws about half an
ounce of blood. 1t is well known fact
that the consumption of leeches has fall
en- immensely the last thirty years, 3d.
100000 of them being used in 1S48 in
France alone. In 1868 1000, 900 were
used in London, and about the same
quantity in Paris. Leeches can be pre-
served in pure water for years. In
transporting them from the French do
mestic marsh, vessel with small perfora-
tions and filled with moist, turfy earth
or peat, made into stiff mud, is used.